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KCUV-FM to cease broadcasting Sunday

By Mike Pearson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 30, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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CORECTION: An earlier version of this story should have said that Dave Rogers is the chief financial officer of Denver-based NRC Broadcasting.

It will be the end of a relatively brief era when KCUV-FM ceases broadcasting at midnight Sunday.

The station, at 102.3 FM, will be replaced by a simulcast of its sister station KJAC (Jack-FM), which also broadcasts from its home frequency at 105.5 FM.

KCUV was a victim of the economy and low ratings, said Dave Rogers, chief financial officer for station owner NRC Broadcasting of Denver.

Comments

  • August 30, 2008

    8:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rwmorrisonjr writes:

    That's too bad, I liked the eclectic mix of music on KCUV.

  • September 1, 2008

    9:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kcuvlistener writes:

    Every radio in my house is tuned to KCUV, and this morning I'm in dismay. I can't believe I have to go back to listening to the other mediocre radio offerings in Denver. It's a sad day.

  • September 1, 2008

    12:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rowdy1 writes:

    Why is it that anything having to do with any sort of media that I like goes down? Mainstream everything blows.

  • September 1, 2008

    3:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    elwayhell writes:

    KCUV was a great radio station, like KBCO used to be--before their repetitive song list assault began. The DJs were insightful and they weren't afraid to play an eccectic assortment of music. I can't believe this has happened... The Denver airwaves just suffered a great loss. Thank god, I've got my ipod to listen to in the car, to hell with Corporate Radio.

  • September 1, 2008

    6:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mjgacek writes:

    I go out of town for 4 days, and return to a once again, bland Denver radio market. I am so disappointed. If KCUV can't have my ears, then nobody will. I'm not going back to 'that station in Boulder'. Well wishes to the entire staff of KCUV...you will be greatly missed :( Thanks for the brief glimmer of hope in an era of predictable, repetitive corporate radio.

  • September 2, 2008

    9:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    bbarrettx writes:

    Such a sad day. I really used to look forward to getting in my car to listen to 'CUV because it really was "about the music". When I turned on the radio and heard Journey yesterday I shed a tear.

    I saw how dismal their ratings were and tried to tell my friends to spead the word. Rowdy1 is right on. Why is it that anything that's not mainstream doesn't survive?

    KBCO and the Mountain won't be gaining me as a listener unless they change the corporate sound. I guess it's time to go to satellite radio. XM Cafe has sounded pretty good when I've listened.

    Thanks to the awesome air talent and programmers at 'CUV for a few years of great radio. Here's hoping that they resurface somewhere on the Denver airwaves. RIP KCUV.

  • September 2, 2008

    9:38 a.m.

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    kcodenver writes:

    KCUV's playlist deteriorated over time. The became more and more like The Mountain and KBCO. I guess that they didn't think they could make it unless they went mainstream. Obviously that didn't work either. Bring back KCUV AM! THAT was an interesting station.

  • September 2, 2008

    10:27 a.m.

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    Bellaluna writes:

    Yes...it's a sad day for Denver radio. I can't even turn my radio on today. There is nothing worth listening to. KCUV was the only bright spot on Denver radio....the only station that dared to play music that was unique and unexpected. Everything else is so predictable. I will miss you, KCUV.

  • September 2, 2008

    10:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    bugmenot writes:

    Just more proof that, led by Clear Channel and others, Denver Radio is a a joke. Glad I got my Satellite radio..see ya Denver.

  • September 2, 2008

    11:18 a.m.

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    kcuvfan writes:

    I couldn't believe when I went to the KCUV website last night to listen and up popped the Jack website instead! NO!!!!!!!!!

    I loved the wonderful variety of music that they played and the extensive knowledge and experience of the DJs. I could listen all day (which I did many days of each week!) and never once got bored.

    The DJs cared about the listeners and were always responsive to suggestions. For instance, when I requested a Dan Fogelberg song on his birthday after his death, Doug Clifton not only played the song but also let everyone know how to donate in Dan's name toward prostrate cancer research.

    I just think it wasn't widely known that the station existed -- except for one time, when I mentioned it I'd be asked "what's KCUV?".

    This is a HUGE loss and so sad. I just cannot make myself go back to corporate radio (which is all we're offered here) I was too spoiled by The V...

  • September 2, 2008

    12:34 p.m.

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    jamac writes:

    What!?!?! $%@^&&*

    KCUV was my favorite station of all time, hands down. My taste in music is much wider than they played but they were wider than anyone else. I get so sick and tired of the corporate crap.

    Like a Jack-in-the-box, I was rudely shocked to find them gone Monday morning. Just more proof of how stupid America is... "Sell me 'New Music!' I'm addicted!" ...whatever

  • September 2, 2008

    8:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bvandoren writes:

    nooooooooooo!!!!! please we have got to get this radio station back on!! I love this station, it is the best thing to hit the Denver airwaves....I am so incredibly sorry for the terrible loss. This station had insight and change. My teenagers even listened to it!!
    I am so full of grief, it is a death in my life for me.

  • September 2, 2008

    10:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AG writes:

    It seems our culture is hell-bent on becoming intellectually stunted, bland, conformist, unsophisticated and prideful of stupidity. I swear, yo watch TV or listen to Clear Channel radio stations...and it's clear that right now, "It's cool to be stupid". KCUV's demise is just another blatant signal that real creativity, diversity and artistic expression is on a culture-wide downswing. KBCO used to be very listenable, and I found that I could discover acts through their playlist. After Clear Channel absorbed them, the insipid corporate payola agenda shrunk their playlist diversity down to a predictable, boring and tepid wash of "Walkin' in Mepmphis" followed by some emasculated whiner like Matt Nathanson. Barf! KCUV actually through you a curve ball every once in a while, and when they played Wilco it wasn't always the "sanctioned single" du jour. Damn it. Lame, Denver. Lame. Frickin' vapid sports town.

  • September 3, 2008

    9:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Grim_Reefer writes:

    Having worked in broadcast for several years and traveled quite a bit, Denver radio $uck$ @$$. Clear Channel (the Death Star, as peter boyles calls it) owns something like half the stations in Denver and the Springs and their playlists are short and shorter.

    It always amazes me that when I visit other towns, Vegas, B-more, rural PA, that there is a ton of great music out there that never seems to make it to Denver. Our office listened to KCUV daily because the mix was diverse and good, and now it's more of the same, stale crap via satellite. Radio is going down the toilet and I am an avid fan and former professional in the medium (former because it's tough to make aliving working 60-hours a week for under $25k a year).

    There is a great station out of Boulder, KVCU 1190 am...online streaming too...www.radio1190.org.

    Independent to the max and you will hear music day in and day out that no one else plays.

  • September 3, 2008

    3:03 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ckatie writes:

    I'm just mortified that KCUV's gone!!! I had it on everyday, all day and LOVED it! My radio's going off. There's nothing else worth listening to, now. Blast!

  • September 4, 2008

    7:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jay045 writes:

    I share everyone's sadness about this. I suggest Folk Alley ( www.folkalley.com/ ) as a possible alternative, but nothing online replaces local radio...

  • September 4, 2008

    9:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jakchance writes:

    Though KCUV was my first turn on the dial, I could see this day coming. Though knowledgable, the on-air staff was talent-poor. Zak was good fit, but G. Brown is a marble mouth, Doug always sounded like he just woke up, and Benji lacked the conversational style and music programming sensibility of a night guy. All were terribly miscast.

    A song is like a word in the sense that it's sound is defined in the context of the songs that come before and after it. This notion seemed to be completely lost on the V's announcers. Maybe it was intentional, maybe they were just lazy. But following Led Zeppelin with James Taylor is a mood killer of the highest degree.

    Instead of "Rock Without Rules," I often thought the imaging would have been more aptly named "Folk Without Rules." I mean, how many female/solo/acoustic/country acts can you listen to in an hour?

    My feeling is, these guys had the opportunity of a lifetime placed in their charge and they blew it.

  • September 7, 2008

    6:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hammerhead writes:

    I moved here from the Balt.-D.C. area 3 years ago. Like anywhere else, there are pros and cons to living in the front range of Colorado. Because I love hiking, climbing, skiing, etc. I decided to stay. With KCUV's demise, I am reminded once again of what a midwestern, hillbilly, backwash area I live in.

  • September 12, 2008

    1:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DMan writes:

    I was sickened to read in the Sat. August 30th Rocky Mountain News that KCUV was to die a painful death at the hands of the MegaChannel (Clear Channel, etc.) finishing their broadcasting on Sunday August 31 and to be replaced by “Jack” (oh, brother!!). They just couldn’t compete.

    Maybe the “public” could get a Public Radio station (Like KCFR) that would be listener-supported that would play the kind of music KCUV did?? I’m afraid that’s the only way we, the listeners, could get what we want.

    There’s a lot of scare tactics being used by the MegaChannel stations. I once heard that KBCO threatened Emmylou Harris and her management that if she were to go on KCUV to do a live broadcast, they would boycott her music on their station. “Now, isn’t that special!”

    KCUV RIP.

    I’ll miss the sounds you never hear anywhere else: Frank Zappa, NRBQ, John Prine, Robin Trower, and the like.

    S’long Zak Phillips, G. Brown, Oz (who had departed earlier), Doug Clifton. What a cryin’ shame!